Safaricom’s recent suspension of advertising on Nation Media Group (NMG) has sparked widespread public interest, particularly due to the increasingly tense relationship between the two organisations.
According to reports, the dispute stemmed from a series of critical articles published by NMG on Safaricom, which made the Telecom Giant decide to stop advertising on NMG’s platforms. This isn’t the first time NMG has faced this issue. They’ve had similar problems with other big companies in the past.
NMG had published a report in October 29th implicating Safaricom in alleged privacy breaches, claiming the telecommunications giant shared user data with the police without permission. Safaricom issued a statement days later expressing its commitment to protecting customer privacy and adhering to Kenya’s data protection laws. The company emphasised that it only shares customer data when explicitly required to do so by a court order.
However, NMG’s focus on Safaricom’s internal practices, combined with the tone of the coverage, appears to have strained the relationship with one of Kenya’s largest corporations.
Saddique Shaban, a Kenyan Journalist, has criticised Safaricom’s actions on social media, likening them to “commercial blackmail” and accusing the telecom company of a “Boko Haram mentality,” referring to what he sees as aggressive, retaliatory corporate behaviour.
He called Safaricom’s move a form of censorship and questioned whether it could successfully quash critical press by pulling financial support. Shaban also urged NMG to publish articles about Safaricom’s controversies without a paywall, allowing the broader public to understand the telecom’s alleged practices.
This is not the first time NMG has faced advertising bans for controversial coverage. In 2020, the Council of Governors suspended its advertising with NMG after the media company published a story that officials found unfavourable, suggesting a pattern where advertisers use financial influence to challenge unfavourable media portrayals.
Meanwhile, Safaricom’s latest financial results have been promising, with strong half-year profits and signals of an increased dividend payout. The company’s decision to allocate its ad budget to other media platforms rather than NMG may have a limited impact on its reach.
However, this clash raises concerns about the influence large corporations hold over Kenyan media and the role of advertising in shaping editorial independence. The tension highlights the fine balance between journalistic freedom and the financial dependencies that news outlets face.
This case could resonate as a cautionary tale for other media houses in Kenya and beyond, highlighting the potential risks for media independence when news outlets rely heavily on ad revenue from a few powerful corporations. As discussions evolve, this story may lead to more public scrutiny of corporate influence on press freedom in Kenya.
